Pump with radial cylinders



March 17, 1964 R. LUCIEN ETAL PUMP wm; RADIAL CYLINDERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1961 R. LUCIEN ETAL PUMP WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS March 17, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1961 .NN. ww 5 NM mm mm Hlg Nu. .m fi N S 2H .J N 8 I v mm m m N MN mw w Q Q March 17, 1964 Filed March 21, 1961 R. LUCIEN ETAL I PUMP WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 17, 1964 R. LUCIEN ETAL PUMP WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 21, 1961 March 1964 R. LUCIEN ETAL PUMP WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 21, 1961 R. LUCIEN ETAL PUMP WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS Marc 17, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Mar hgl, 1961 United States Patent 3,125,034 P WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS Rene Lucien, N euilly-sur-Seine, and Emile Tetart, Louvie Juzon, France, assignors to Societe a Responsabilite Limitee: Recherches Etudes Production R.E.P., Paris, France, a corporation of France Filed Mar. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 97,339 Claims priority, application France Sept. 1, 1960 laims. (Cl. 103-174) The present invention has for its object a pump with fixed radial cylinders which is remarkable for the simplicity of its construction and for its greatly reduced overall dimensions.

With regard to the drive of the pistons, the pump is of the positive-drive type, in which the driving shaft carries an eccentric which rotates freely in a prismatic piece having a regular polygonal contour, of which each of the faces is maintained in sliding contact with one extremity of one of the pistons by a groove and tongue engagement parallel to the said face, so that the polygonal member is driven in a circular movement of translation and produces at each rotation of the shaft the reciprocating movement of the pistons in their respective cylinders, while a slip takes place between each piston and the face of the prism with which it is in contact.

The supply of the pump is effected by the driving shaft which is provided with an axial cavity. The compression chamber of each cylinder receives the liquid through an axial conduit in the piston. This conduit communicates with the cavity in the driving shaft through ports provided in the piston, and which arefreed at the end of each stroke of the piston in the direction of the axis of the driving shaft.

The compression chambers communicate through the intermediary of a valve with a delivery chamber which is in communication with the delivery orifice of the pump.

One of the objects of the invention resides in the design and the arrangement of the said delivery chamber and of the said delivery valve.

In accordance with the invention, the delivery chamber has the form of a circular ring coaxial with the axis of the pump, disposed laterally with respect to the cylinders, and has a flat surface perpendicular to the axis into which discharge the delivery conduits which pass from each individual compression chamber to the delivery chamber.

According to the invention, each delivery orifice cooperates With a metallic valve in the form of a metal blade applied against the said flat surface, either by its own elasticity or by elastic means; the said valve may either be a single circular piece co-acting with the whole of the orifices, or it may be individual to each orifice, or it may be associated with a fraction of the number of orifices.

A further form of the invention relates to a pump such as that described above, in which are provided two or more annular delivery chambers, each coupled to a fraction of the number of cylinders and to a delivery orifice proper, each delivery chamber being provided with one or a plurality of valves co-operating with the delivery orifices which discharge into the said delivery chamber.

Further particular features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows below of different pumps and different delivery valves according to the invention.

This description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

'FIG. 1 is a representation of a pump according to the invention, shown in partial axial cross-section following the line II of FIG. 2.

3,125,034 Patented Mar. 17., 1964 ice FIG. 2 is a view looking on the top of FIG. 1, the.

upper end plate being removed.

FIG. 3 shows a development on a plane of the central section of a multiple valve according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse section of the said valve.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are alternative forms of the valve shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a detail of FIG. 2 which shows, as an alternative, three double valves.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 3, but having three double valves.

FIG. 10 is a cross-section similar to that of FIG. 9 but with three double corrugated valves.

FIG. 11 is an axial section of an alternative form of pump according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a view in partial axial section similar to that of FIG. 1, but for a pump with a double delivery.

FIG. 13 is a cross-section of the block of the cylinders of FIG. 12, perpendicular to the axis along the plane common to the axes of the cylinders.

FIG. 14 is a view in cross-section taken along the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13.

. FIG. 15 is a view in cross-section taken along the line XV-XV of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a view in cross-section along the line XVIXVI of FIG. 13.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump comprises a pump body 1 closed by a cover 2 retained by screws 3. Sealing joints are provided at 4 and 5 between the body and the cover. The body 1 of the pump comprises radial cylinders 6, of which six are provided in the example shown. A driving shaft 7, mounted on needle-bearings 8, carries an eccentric 9 about which a member 10 is airranged so as to be free in rotation, the transverse section of the member 10 having the form of a regular polygon with as many sides as the pump has cylinders, namely six in the present case. Each face of the polygonal member 10 is provided with a tongue 11 parallel to that face which tongue co-operates with a groove of the corresponding piston 12 for the positive drive of the piston by the polygonal member. Each cylinder chamber is closed by a plug 14 with a sealing joint. The pistons 12 are provided with an axial bore 15 which passes straight through them. Ports 16 open into the shaft 7 which is hollow, and through the eccentric, level with the bores 15. Ports 17 are bored through the polygonal member and through the ring which is rigidly fixed thereto and in which rotates the eccentric 9. The axial cavity 18a of the driving shaft 7 is supplied with liquid through the conduit 19 from the supply orifice 20.

In accordance with the invention, the compression chamber of each of the cylinders is in communication through a conduit 21 with a lateral circular delivery chamber 22, the fluid-tightness of which is ensured by the circular joints 4 and 5 interposed between the body 1 of the pump and its cover 2. The passages 21 discharge into a flat surface 23 in the form of a circular ring, on which rests a valve 24. The delivery chamber 22 communicates at 25 and 26 with the outlet orifice of the liquid under pressure, housed in the boss which can be seen at 27.

Holes 28 are provided in the boss 29 for fixing the pump.

The operation of the pump is as follows:

As a result of the positive drive of the pistons, each of the latter carries out a to-and-fro movement at each revolution of the shaft while the face of the polygonal member in contact with the piston moves with respect to said piston with a reciprocating transverse movement of translation. During the course of this movement, the admission ports in the axial cavities 15 of the pistons are alternately opened (suction time) and closed (compression time). During the compression time in each cylinder, the valve 24 lifts and frees the corresponding orifice 23:: so that the delivery chamber 22 is supplied with liquidunder pressure successively by all the orifices 23a.

There will now be describedby way of non-limitative examples, different forms of construction of valvesin accordance withthe invention.

Reference will first be made to FIGS. 3 and'4. These represent respectively, in a central developed cross-section on a plane and in transverse section, a multiple valve in one single piece. The valve 24, is thus in the'form of a closed ring. Itis controlled by the pressure of rubber blocks 31, which ensures a good closure of the delivery orifices during the aspiration period, and substantially improves the priming. In FIG. 3, the three cylinders corresponding to-the conduits 21 on the left-hand side are at delivery, the fluid passing out in the direction of the arrows 32 lifts the multiple valve 24 against the pressure of the return blocks 31, while the three righthand cylinders are at suction and the orifices 23a of their conduits 21 are closed by the valve 24. It is clear that even for a pump with six cylinders, the return blocks 31 may be other than six in number, or they may be differently constituted. For example, FIG. 5 shows three return devices constituted by springs 33. No return device at allmay be provided, as shown in FIG. 6; the multiple valve 24 is then preferably made elastic in itself. The: elastic valve 24inFIG. 6 is displaced in the direction of the arrows by the liquid under pressure, at'locations above the orifices 23 correspondingto which the pistons are in the compression stroke while the elastic valve 24 isheldagainst the orifices 23a by suction. In

this embodiment, the valve 24 is flexible so that pressure means,.such as 31- and 33 of FIGS. 3 and 5, respectively, are not necessary. Furthermore, the valve Zdmay be corrugated; asshown in FIG. 7 for example, in order to increase the stiffness and thereby respond better to certain working characteristics. In the case of the multiple valve ofIFIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the invention provides that this valve 24 may be left free in the delivery chamber 22. If the central line of this valve 24-is then given a development in length a little greater than that of the central line of its supporting surface, its deformation duringthe operation of the pump causes it to creep slightly back in the reverse direction, and this results in perfectly uniform wear byincessantly changing its-bearing points on the orifices of the conduits 21, especially preventing the impressions of these orifices from being impressed on the valve, thus giving a better fluid-tightness.

Instead of a single multiple delivery valve, the inventionfurther provides a plurality of multiple valves, each of which-co-operates with a number of delivery orifices. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10- show, with reference to the same pump, a valve arrangement including three double Valves 34 fixed by screws 35, rivets or any other method of fixing. In FIGS.- 8 and 9, the valves 34 are fiat elastic blades fixed by the screws 35 on'the surface 23 of the body 1 of the pump. In FIG. 10, the valves are corrugated and elastic, and are fixed by screws 35 to the cover 201 the pump. The elasticity of the valves in FIG. 10 is sufiicient to permit the same to be drawn against the orifice during the suction stroke and be displaced from the orifice during the compression stroke. In these forms of embodiment, elastic restoring members similar to the rubber blocks 31 or the springs 33 may also be provided.

As an alternative form, FIG. 11 shows a pump of the same type as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Like the previous pump, it comprises a pump body 1, a cover 2 with a liquid intake orifice and a delivery orifice 27, a hollow driving shaft '7 with an eccentric 9 and a member 10 having a transverse section in'the form of a regular polygon for positively driving pistons 12 in their respective cylinders 6. In this embodiment, there is provided a suction chamber-36 in which a turbine 37, which rotates with the driving shaft, creates a pressure. The pistons 12 are also of tubular form but are provided with a bottom at their extremities close to the axis of the pump and with transverse ports 38, through which the liquid passes into the pistons when the ports pass into the suction chamber.

As in the case of the pump previously described, the compression chambers of each of the cylinders 6 communicate through a conduit 21 with a lateral and circular delivery chamber 22 comprising a flat surface 23 in the form of a ring, and one or more multiple or individual delivery valves 24,- which can be selected from the types previously described. An orifice 39 is provided for the evacuation of liquid which may have passed between the shaft 7 and the body 1 of the pump.

The pump shown inFIGS. 12, 13, 14-, 15 and 16 differs from those which havebeen'described above with reference to FIGS..1 and 11 by the fact that it has a double output; that is to say it is provided with two delivery chambers, each of which is coupled to a separate delivery orifice.

To this end, the pump body or cylinder block 39 is arranged-on a support 40 and is provided with a cover 41.

The delivery chambers 42. and 43 are respectively hoilowed out in the support and in the cover, and their flat annular surfaces 44 and 45, which carry valves 46 and 47, are machined respectively on the support 49 and the cover 41. One cylinder in every two, 6b, 6a, 6f, for example, is connected by a. conduit 48 to the delivery chamber 42, while the others 6a, 60, 6e, are connected by conduits-49 to the delivery chamber 43. The delivery' chambers 42 and 43 are each connected to a delivery orifice Etl-and 51- respectively which are coupled in turn to the outlet nozzles 52and 53.

In a further form of embodiment of a pump with a double output, the two delivery chambers are arranged concentrically, and are both hollowed out either in the support or in the pump cover.

The pump may also be designed'as a pump with four outputs. In this case, four annular coaxial delivery chambers are provided, two of which are hollowed out in the support 40 and the other two, similarly arranged, are hollowed outin the cover. With aview to regular operation of the pump, it is an advantage to multiply the number of cylinders at the same time as the number of delivery chambers.

A pump with four outputs will comprise for example twelve'radial cylinders which, inorder to limit the overall size, will be arranged'in two groups of six having their axesin two superposed planes, the four delivery chambers being arranged in two stages, as indicated above.

The six upper cylinders will be coupled for example half to each of the twoupper delivery chambers, and in the same. way, half of the six lower cylinders would be coupled to each of the two lower delivery chambers.

What we claim is:

1. A pump comprising a pump body provided with a plurality of cylinders in radial arrangement about an axis, apiston slidably supported in each of said cylinders, a driving shaft adapted for rotation about said axis, means coupled to said shaft and each of the pistons for reciprocating the same upon rotation of said shaft to provide suction and compression strokes, each of said pistons having an axial bore and a transverse opening in communication with the bore, said pump body defining an axial well around said shaft adapted for connection to a source of fluid, the transverse openings of the pistons passing into said well with the pistons in the suction stroke to admit fluid into the corresponding cylinder through said transverse opening and the bore of a respective piston, said body being provided with a passageway extending from each cylinder for enabling discharge of fluid therefrom withthe piston therein in the compression stroke, a pair of isolated chambers being provided, in respective communication wtih paired group- ,1 ings of said cylinders through said passageways, and a valve for each of said chambers for closing communication between the associated chamber and respective passageways of associated cylinders, said chambers being of annular form and extending in planes parallel to the cylinders, each of the valves including a deformable blade.

2. A pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade is a one piece body, the pump further comprising elastic means engaging said blade at a plurality of locations to urge the blade into contact with said body to close said orifices, said fluid being subjected to pressure in the cylinders with said pistons therein in the compression stroke, said blade being displaced against the action of the elastic means by the fluid under pressure in the cylinders to a displaced position in which communication is established between the chamber and the passageways associated with the pistons in the compression stroke.

3. A pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body defines an orifice between each of said passageways and the associated chamber, said orifices being arranged in annular fashion about said axis, said orifices cooperatively defining a plane, said blade being coplanar with the plane of the orifices.

4. A pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein further isolated chambers are provided, the body having further passageways providing communication between each of said cylinders and the further chambers whereby each cylinder is adapted for delivering fluid to a plurality of chambers.

5. A pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade includes a plurality of portions each cooperating with a plurality of orifices.

6. A pump as claimed in claim 1 comprising a cover on said pump body, the chambers being provided in said cover, said body having a surface facing said cover, the orifice being provided in the latter said surface.

7. A pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade is a one piece annular elastic body which is engaged against said orifices to close the same with the pistons in the suction stroke, said blade being displaced at said orifices by fluid under pressure between the associated passageway and chamber with the pistons undergoing the compression stroke.

8. A pump as claimed in claim 7 wherein said blade is corrugated.

9. A pump as claimed in claim 7 in which said blade is freely supported in each said chamber, said blade having a length which is greater than the length of the annular chamber.

10. A pump comprising a pump body provided with a plurality of cylinders in radial arrangement about an axis, a piston slidably supported in each of said cylinders, a hollow driving shaft adapted for rotation about said axis, means coupled to said shaft and each of the pistons for reciprocating the same upon rotation of said shaft to provide suction and compression strokes, said hollow shaft being adapted for the supply of a fluid thereto, said pistons each having an axial bore extending therethrough, said shaft being provided with ports one for each piston for establishing communication between the bores of the pistons and the fluid in the shaft when said pistons are in the suction strokes thereof for drawing fluid into said cylinders, said body being provided with a passageway extending from each cylinder for enabling discharge of fluid therefrom with the piston therein in the compression stroke, a pair of isolated chambers being provided, in respective communication with paired groupings of said cylinders through said passageways, and a valve for each of said chambers for closing communication between the associated chamber and respective passageways of associated cylinders, said chambers being of annular form and extending in planes parallel to the cylinders, each of the valves including a deformable blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,234,684 Niebling July 24, 1917 2,324,291 Dodge July 13, 1943 2,427,253 Browne Sept. 9, 1947 2,612,837 Midgette Oct. 7, 1952 2,818,816 Christenson Jan. 7, 1958 2,821,932 Lucien Feb. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 519,646 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1940 

1. A PUMP COMPRISING A PUMP BODY PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF CYLINDERS IN RADIAL ARRANGEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS, A PISTON SLIDABLY SUPPORTED IN EACH OF SAID CYLINDERS, A DRIVING SHAFT ADAPTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS, MEANS COUPLED TO SAID SHAFT AND EACH OF THE PISTONS FOR RECIPROCATING THE SAME UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT TO PROVIDE SUCTION AND COMPRESSION STROKES, EACH OF SAID PISTONS HAVING AN AXIAL BORE AND A TRANSVERSE OPENING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE BORE, SAID PUMP BODY DEFINING AN AXIAL WELL AROUND SAID SHAFT ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF FLUID, THE TRANSVERSE OPENINGS OF THE PISTONS PASSING INTO SAID WELL WITH THE PISTONS IN THE SUCTION STROKE TO ADMIT FLUID INTO THE CORRESPONDING CYLINDER THROUGH SAID TRANSVERSE OPENING AND THE BORE OF A RESPECTIVE PISTON, SAID BODY BEING PROVIDED WITH A PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING FROM EACH CYLINDER FOR ENABLING DISCHARGE OF FLUID THEREFROM WITH THE PISTON THEREIN IN THE COMPRESSION STROKE, A PAIR OF ISOLATED CHAMBERS BEING PROVIDED, IN RESPECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH PAIRED GROUPINGS OF SAID CYLINDERS THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAYS, AND A VALVE FOR EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS FOR CLOSING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATED CHAMBER AND RESPECTIVE PASSAGEWAYS OF ASSOCIATED CYLINDERS, SAID CHAMBERS BEING OF ANNULAR FORM AND EXTENDING IN PLANES PARALLEL TO THE CYLINDERS, EACH OF THE VALVES INCLUDING A DEFORMABLE BLADE. 